Gina Pala

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Gina is an accomplished Senior IT Executive with 20+ years in both the public and private sectors specializing in financial services and technology.  She is a proven results-oriented business technology leader who works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels and has a proven track record of consistently delivery results – on time and on budget.  She brings strong business acumen and expertise in all matters pertaining to IT including design, development and implementation of numerous strategic transformational projects.  

Recently in the role of Sr. IM/IT Strategic Advisor at BCFSA, Gina provided strategic leadership and talent management through Crown transformation, Real Estate integration and the development and implementation of a new Integrated Regulatory Information System.  She has undertaken the lead of an IT organization transformation process to position the team to meet the growing demands placed on it by the organization and to ensure the expertise and technology are in place to keep pace with the growth of BCFSA and meet its evolving needs.

Much of Gina’s early career was in the public sector, where she held increasingly progressive roles with BCi, the Ministry of Employment and Income Assistance, Ministries of Education and Advanced Education and Ministry of Children & Family Development, where she attained the position of Chief Information Officer.  In these roles, she led large teams to deliver numerous high profile strategic projects and provided advice and recommendations to Ministers and Deputy Ministers for effective delivery of business objectives through information management and technology.

Key accomplishments include:

• Planning, developing and implementing an IT strategy to improve outcomes for children in care
• Established project management standards and guidelines to provide a framework for successful IT project delivery
• Led the high profile Integrated Case Management System project to build a successful team to work effectively with the Service Integrator and partner Ministries
• Established and managed Aboriginal stakeholder relationships to enable delivery of critical information between Ministry and agencies to benefit at-risk Aboriginal youth
• Led the implementation of an information management strategy to facilitate improved information sharing between First Nations Delegated Agencies and the Ministry, receiving recognition through a regional nomination for the Premier’s Award in Partnership
• Established and led a formal Project Management Delivery Office to promote best practices and guidelines
• Negotiated contract extensions and improvements to achieve cost savings, effective service levels and concise terms
• Led a team to plan and deliver strategic business initiatives to manage K-12 programs and post secondary education
• Led the transition of application managed services to external service provider leading to more efficient delivery of services and reduction in operating costs
• Implemented an organizational branch redesign, managed all change management and HR issues including grievances, workforce adjustment and job performance planning and review

Gina is a firm believer in continually developing herself professionally and is an active volunteer within her community.  Her passion for youth is best demonstrated by her work within both the education system and children and family services as well as with her volunteering efforts, opening her home to host a number of exchange students throughout the years.